Obama's win forces Walker's hand on health care

President Barack Obama's re-election is forcing the hand of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who had stopped all efforts to implement the federal health care reform law in the hopes that Republicans would take over in Washington.

But Obama won and Democrats kept control of the Senate, meaning the Affordable Health Care Act will continue to go into effect. Wisconsin faces a November 16 deadline to inform the Obama administration about whether the state will implement a health care marketplace, or exchange, or let the federal government do it.

Walker told reporters Wednesday in Milwaukee that he will be meeting with state officials this week to discuss the next steps. A spokeswoman for Walker's Department of Health Services declined immediate comment.

Republican legislative leaders say they need to discuss next steps.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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